The Creality Ender 6 is a high-quality 3D printer that offers excellent value for money. With its innovative cubic chassis design, auto-leveling technology, and large build volume, the Ender 6 is a versatile machine suitable for beginners and experienced makers alike.
In this in-depth review, we will take a close look at the key features and capabilities of the Ender 6, assess its strengths and weaknesses, and provide tips on how to get the most out of this 3D printer. We’ll also suggest some of the best upgrades to take the Ender 6 to the next level.
Overview of the Creality Ender 6
The Ender 6 was launched by Chinese manufacturer Creality in 2020 as an upgraded version of their popular Ender 3 series. It retains the same excellent print quality and reliability as the Ender 3, but with some major design changes.
The most obvious change is the move to a cubic-shaped frame rather than the cantilever design of previous Ender models. This gives the Ender 6 a very different aesthetic, but also improves stability and reduces vibration during printing.
Other key features of the Ender 6 include:
- Build volume of 220 x 220 x 250mm
- Direct drive extruder
- Silent stepper drivers
- Auto bed-leveling
- Resume print function after power outage
- Mean Well power supply
- Color touchscreen interface
It’s clear from the spec sheet that the Ender 6 is no hobbyist machine – it’s a serious mid-range printer ready for some serious printing action! Let’s take a closer look at some of its best features and capabilities.
Sturdy Cubic Frame Design
One of the standout features of the Ender 6 is definitely the cubic frame design. This gives it an extremely solid and stable base for 3D printing. The 4040 aluminum extrusion frame is much stiffer than the cantilever style frame of the Ender 3.
The leadscrews are also fully constrained and protected inside the aluminum extrusions. This removes any chance of frame distortion during printing, which improves print accuracy and quality. Many users have noted how quiet and vibration-free the Ender 6 is, even at high print speeds.
The improved rigidity allows faster print speeds and acceleration. No more wobbly frames when printing tall or complex objects! Overall the cubic design is a big step up over previous Ender models when it comes to stability and precision.
Large Heated Print Bed
Another big improvement with the Ender 6 is the build platform size. At 220mm x 220mm, it offers 25% more print area compared to an Ender 3. The total build height is a generous 250mm tall.
This large print volume allows you to create really big printed objects like helmets, cosplay armor pieces, and lithophanes. No more splitting your models into multiple parts to fit on the print bed.
The print surface is a flexible magnetic sheet that adheres securely to the aluminum bed. It provides good adhesion when hot, but printed objects pop off easily when the bed cools down. The bed heats up quickly and evenly for consistent first layer adhesion across the whole surface.
Overall the Ender 6 build platform is a big upgrade over previous Ender printers. The added print volume gives you way more creative options.
Direct Extruder Design
Gone is the Bowden setup of the Ender 3. The Ender 6 uses a direct drive extruder mounted right on the print head. This gives better control over extrusion and retraction. Direct drive allows faster print speeds, sharper corners, and more detailed prints.
The extruder uses a pancake style stepper motor to keep the print head relatively lightweight. This reduces strain on the gantry and belts during travel moves and direction changes. A spring-loaded lever pushes the filament tightly to the drive gear for positive traction.
A cooling fan keeps the stepper motor and extruder assembly from overheating during long prints. The Ender 6 hotend looks similar to the Ender 3 style with quick change nozzles. Overall the direct drive setup is a big upgrade in performance and reliability.
Auto Bed Leveling
One of the best features of the Ender 6 is the auto bed leveling system. It uses a BLTouch style probe to map the bed surface before each print. The nozzle then adjusts Z height automatically across the bed to compensate for any dips or inconsistencies.
This makes bed leveling completely hands-off – no more tedious manual adjustment every few prints! The ABL system works extremely well and reliably on the Ender 6. Most users report flawless first layers and bed adhesion since the nozzle height is always perfect.
Auto bed leveling is a must-have feature for any modern 3D printer. The Ender 6 implementation is well executed and very robust. It’s a huge upgrade over manually leveling the bed.
Color Touchscreen Interface
The Ender 6 uses an intuitive 2.8” color touchscreen interface similar to the CR-10S Pro. It’s bright, responsive, and very easy to navigate through the menus. You can check print status, temperatures, fine tune settings, auto-level the bed, and start prints with just a tap.
The touchscreen makes bed leveling, calibration, and general operation much simpler compared to the Ender 3. It’s a very nice feature to have, especially for beginners. No more decoding cryptic LCD menus and buttons. Overall the color touchscreen really improves the user experience and functionality of the Ender 6.
Resume Print After Power Loss
Ever had a long print ruined because someone tripped over the power cord? Not fun! The Ender 6 now includes a handy “resume print” feature. If power to the printer is interrupted, it will save the position and restart the print from that exact spot once power is restored.
No more wasted filament and time when a print fails mid-way through! This great recovery function ensures you can reliably print overnight or unattended without worrying about power outages. Just one of the many ways the Ender 6 provides a hassle-free printing experience.
Reliable Power Supply Unit
The stock Ender 3 power supply had a reputation for being underpowered and cheaply made. The Ender 6 thankfully comes with a Mean Well branded power supply unit (PSU). Mean Well PSUs are known for their excellent quality and reliability.
The 200W 24V power brick provides steady, consistent power for the heated bed, hotend, and electronics. Having a high-quality PSU minimizes the risk of electrical issues, and improves overall print quality and consistency. It’s a welcome upgrade over the notoriously fickle PSU of the Ender 3.
Exceptional Print Quality
So how well does the Ender 6 actually print? In short – really, really well! Despite the many upgrades and redesign, Creality hasn’t messed with the Ender’s winning formula when it comes to print quality.
Right out of the box, the Ender 6 can produce layer lines down to 0.1mm resolution and impressive fine details. Sharp corners, smooth curves, and crisp text are no problem with finely tuned acceleration and jerk settings. Stringing is minimal thanks to the well-tuned retraction settings from the factory.
With some basic calibration the Ender 6 can achieve extremely accurate dimensions right in the +/- 0.1mm range. Once dialed in, it delivers consistent, high-quality prints time after time. Print quality rivals other mid-range printers costing twice as much.
Overall the Ender 6 offers outstanding print quality for the price. Clean, detailed prints with great surface finish and accuracy. Ideal for detailed props, miniatures, functional parts, and scale models.
Easy to Set Up and Use
Considering its large size and completely redesigned frame, the Ender 6 is surprisingly easy to set up thanks to the detailed instruction manual. Assembly takes 1-2 hours following the step-by-step directions. No specialized tools or modifications needed.
All the wiring is pre-routed and labeled clearly. Setup is straightforward even for someone with zero 3D printer experience. Once built, the printer is easy and intuitive to use thanks to the touchscreen interface.
Auto-leveling makes bed preparation completely foolproof. Just a tap of the screen and you’re ready to print. Switching filament takes seconds with the convenient direct drive extruder. Overall the Ender 6 is one of the easiest mid-range printers to get up and running quickly.
Large Online Community
As with all Creality printers, the Ender 6 benefits from Creality’s massive online community. The Creality Ender Facebook group alone has over 150,000 members! Username @ender6 on Reddit has almost 5,000 members at the time of writing.
Between these forums, dedicated Ender 6 user groups, YouTube channels, and review sites, there are tons of resources for troubleshooting, upgrades, mods, and general tips. No matter what issue you run into, chances are other users have experienced and solved it already.
The wealth of online support is extremely valuable for getting the most out of your Ender 6. Definitely take advantage of the community when you run into the inevitable hiccups that come with 3D printing.
Great Value for Money
The Ender 6 costs $419 direct from Creality, which is very reasonable for a mid-range printer of this calibre. For comparison, the Prusa i3 MK3S retails for $749 – nearly double the price! Given its excellent print quality, large build volume, and reliable performance, the Ender 6 offers outstanding value.
Keep in mind that the Ender 6 price doesn’t include filament or any upgrades or accessories. But it’s an affordable starting point for dialing in your printer before customizing it to suit your needs. Overall the Ender 6 delivers impressive capabilities and quality for budget-conscious makers and tinkerers.
Recommended Upgrades for the Ender 6
While the stock Ender 6 is capable out of the box, there are a few inexpensive upgrades that can greatly improve performance, reliability, and print quality. Here are some of the best upgrades for taking your Ender 6 to the next level:
All-Metal Hotend: The stock hotend works fine, but an all-metal microswiss or E3D V6 hotend allows printing at higher temps with abrasive filaments. Ideal for exotic materials like carbon fiber infused PLA.
Silent Motherboard: The silent TMC2208 stepper drivers reduce motor noise drastically. Makes the printer practically whisper-quiet.
Direct Drive: More flexible filament options, higher retractions, faster speeds. Choose a full direct drive kit or just a BMG extruder.
Bed Springs: Upgraded yellow springs prevent having to re-level as often. Drop-in enhancement.
Filament Guide: Adds constraints along the filament path for more consistent feeding. Prevents snags and stripping.
Z Axis Stabilizers: Brackets securing the leadscrews reduce Z wobble and vibration even further.
Touchscreen Firmware: Unlocks extra settings and customization options on the touchscreen interface.
With these simple add-ons, you can take your Ender 6 to the next level for under $200 in upgrades. Check out our full guide to the best Ender 6 upgrades for more options.
Pros and Cons of the Ender 6
Here are some of the main benefits and drawbacks of the Creality Ender 6 based on our experience:
Pros:
- Excellent print quality right out of the box
- Large 220mm cubed build volume
- Auto bed leveling via BL Touch
- Direct drive extruder with pancake stepper
- Reliable performance for the price
- Huge online support community
- Intuitive touchscreen interface
- Resume print after power loss
- Mean Well power supply included
Cons:
- Noisy stepper motor drivers
- Slightly tedious filament loading
- Can’t print exotic materials without upgrades
- Limited touchscreen functionality without firmware update
- Doesn’t detect filament runouts
- Smaller community than Ender 3
For under $500, the Ender 6 offers tremendous value with impressive capabilities. The few shortcomings are easily fixed with basic upgrades and community support. Overall the Ender 6 delivers outstanding quality and reliability for the price point.
Creality Ender 6 Review Verdict
The Creality Ender 6 takes proven Ender 3 DNA and improves on it in almost every way. The revamped cubic frame, direct extruder, auto bed leveling, and color touchscreen combine to make a formidable mid-range 3D printer.
Out of the box print quality is superb, with easy assembly and setup for beginners. The 225 x 225 x 250mm build volume and direct drive allow more design freedom and print versatility. Reliable performance and innovative features like power outage recovery make the Ender 6 a true workhorse printer.
While basic, the Ender 6 has huge potential for upgrades and modifications down the road. It strikes a perfect balance between DIY tinkering and just working. Plus you get the full support of Creality’s online community for troubleshooting and customization.
For intermediate makers seeking high print quality, large build volume, and proven Creality reliability, the Ender 6 is an easy recommendation. It consistently delivers outstanding prints and provides a great 3D printing experience right out of the box. The Ender 6 is one of the best mid-range printers available today.
